BARAITOT

Ancient oral traditions of Jewish religious law that were not included in the Mishna (the first authoritative codification os such laws), which were given final form early in the 3rd century AD by the Palestinian master of Oral Law Judah ha-Nasi.

Baraitot (Hebrew: Outside Teachings; sing. Baraita) thar are found dispersed singly throughout the Palestinian and Babylonian Talmuds are often recognizable by such introductory words as "it was taught" or "the rabbi taught".

Other Baraitot are found in independent collections, the best known of which is called Tosefta; in form and content it parallels the Mishna.

Halakhic Midrashim are another source of Baraitot. Since the Mishna was selective and concisely phrased, Baraitot preserved traditions of Oral Law that might otherwise have been lost.